ok i put a new race distributor in my 89 tbi it starts fine but the idle is a little low at first, but the computer compensates for it, for about 10-15 seconds in which it runs good then it starts to idle down stumble then die...i set base timing at 0 degrees, computer doesn't give me any codes... could this be a vacuum leak???

 

Try setting your base timing a little higher, say between 6 & 10 degrees.

 

ok thanks i'll try it

 

ok i set it a few degrees higher then a few degrees higher than that, upon start up its fine but when it starts to idle down, the comoputer starts to move the timing closer to tdc and when it gets close it dies, i tried holding a timing light on it then when the computer started adjusting the timing i would turn the distributor a little, it would idle back up a little but still die after a couple of seconds...could i be a tooth off?

 

ok i put a screw tightener ring on one of the vaccum hoses coming off the intake and the car stays running now at idle, i can give it a little gas and its fine but when i rev the motor a little bit it there is a hestitation but then it rev up but then dies...

 

ok i emailed someone who also bought this distributor from an ebay seller and he said the emission system was to blame for the computer to retard the timing, because of the more powerful race distributor